Blind



W. P. CAR R Sept. 21, 1954 BLIND Filed Nov. 28, 1949 INlV/ENTOR.

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Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE BLIND William P. Carr, Perrysburg, Ohio Application November 28, 1949, Serial No. 129,854

(Cl. IZ- 565) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a'plastic blind and particularly to such a blind that is adapted to be attachedto or combined with a window; it is however, capable to being employed as a simple blind separate from a window.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a blind which is compact.

Another important object is to provide a blind that is capable of use over a long period without requiring repair and cleaning.

A further object is the provision of a blind which presents little obstruction to light in its open position.

These and other objects and advantages are attained through the forming of the blind with a flexible generally transparent plastic sheet having spaced parallel layers of light shielding substance, and iixing to opposite sides of the plastic sheet relatively movable transparent panes of glass or plastic.

With reference to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a section of a window casement embodying one form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the combined window pane and blind of Figure 1 with the light shielding layers in horizontal planes; f

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but with the light shielding layers tilted upwardly; v

Figure 4 is a perspective View figuratively illustrating a method of making the plastic sheet with the light shielding layers utilized in the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a part of a Window easement incorporating a second form of my invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a plastic sheet being prepared for use in the invention as shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a perspective View of a portion of the sheet of Figure 6 after it is folded into the desired shape;

Figure 8 is an edge view of the folded sheet after it is attached to a thin plastic panel;

Figure 9 is a vertical section of a portion of the combination window and blind of Figure 5; and

Figure 10 is a similar view with the light shielding layers tilted instead of in horizontal planes.

The embodiment of Figure 1 includes a standard window casing I, with a glass pane 2. Bonded to the pane 2 is a mobile plastic sheet 3. The latter has layers 4 of a light shielding substance lying in spaced parallel planes. Fixed to the side of the plastic sheet 3 opposite to the glass pane 2 is a movably mounted glass panel 5. Along the lower edge of the glass panel 5 is an integral metal border channel B. Depending from the channel 6 is a tongue I with a laterally eX- tending pin 8. This pin protrudes into a cam groove 9 cut in a blind adjusting rocker I0. TheV rocker I0 is turnably mounted on a bracket II fastened to the lower portion of the window casing I. A handle I2 is fixed to the rocker I0 for manually turning it. The movement of the cam groove 9 through its contact with pin 8 raises and lowers the glass panel 5, The plastic sheet 3 is easily deformable but elastic in nature. With one side of the plastic sheet 3 fixed to the stationary window pane 2, and its other side joined to the movable glass panel 5, when the latter is moved, the mobile plastic body of sheet 3 is biased upwardly or downwardly according to the direction of movement; and the light shielding layers 4 are correspondingly tilted. In Figures 1 and 2, the layers 5 are in a horizontal position and the arrows, indicate the highest angle of light rays which may pass between them. In Figure 3 the layers 4 have been tilted upwardly and the highest angle of entering light rays has been reduced vas shown by the arrow in this View.

One method of forming the plastic sheet 3 is presented in Figure 4. In this method an adhesive and light shielding iilm I3 is applied to the upper side of a series of suitable yplastic sheets I4, as they are successively positioned one upon another. After the sheets are rmly attached together, Vertical cuts with a slicer I5, guratively illustrated, are made in the resultant block I6. These cuts are made in parallel planes spaced to the thickness desired for the plastic sheet 3.

The layers of the light shielding adhesive film I3 should be as thin as possible so as to obstruct the View through the final blind a minimum amount when the layers are in horizontal planes. For effective light screening with less movement in the completed blind the layers are spaced closer together. For instance they may be positioned closer together than the thickness of the mobile sheet.

The plastic composition for the sheets 3 should be selected so that it may be easily distortable but sufficiently elastic to resume its original position and form when the distorting force is relieved. It also must be capable of being adhered firmly to glass and to itself. Its mobility and elasticity should not be greatly affected by norvmal temperature changes.

With the plastics now available a Vinyl would likely be the best for use in this invention. For instance polyvinyl butyral may be formulated with the desired characteristics. As employed in safety glass this plastic has shown good adherence to glass and suflicient flexibility and elasticity to withstand such usage. For adaption to this invention a greater amount of plasticity is required in order to have a composition which is more mobile and more easily distorted. This softer character may be secured by increasing the proportional content of butyraldehyde in respect to the polyvinyl alcohol, and also by increasing the per cent of the plasticizer, such as diethyl phthalate.

The adhesive film between the sheets may be a solution of the same plastic with the light shielding substance added to it. This substance may vary widely according to the results desired. For instance, bronze flakes would provide a thin opaque film with a good light reflecting power. For decorative purposes bright colored pigments singly or in patterns would be suitable.

The plastic sheet 3 may be secured between the glass pane 2 and the movable glass panel 5 by a combination of heat and pressure as utilized in the production of safety glass.

For better adhesion the glass surface. may be first treated with a priming coat of the plastic formulated with a higher ratio content of polyvinyl alcohol in relation to the content of butyraldehyde. This composition has less elasticity but a better affinity to glass.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 through 10 differs principally from that shown in the first figures by having a folded plastic sheet 26 with air spaces in the folds instead of being solid as plastic sheet 3. While being less expensive to fabricate and having more insulating capacity, it is not as sturdy, and without the edges sealed would permit dust to collect within it. It further differs by having a movable plastic panel I'l instead of the glass panel 5.

In fabricating this form of my invention a thin sheet of a polyvinyl chloride of other plastic which is flexible and is subject to folding is utilized.

As pictured in Figure 6, to this sheet Il is applied strips I8 of a light shielding coating. This coating may be a pigmented lacquer or any other material that would have good adherence to the plastic. The sheet is then folded as shown in Figure 7 with the coated portions in transverse parallel planes and with the transparent uncoated sections facing the sides.

This folded sheet Il is then bonded to a flat sheet I9 of clear plastic. This may be of the same kind as used for the sheet Il, and a solvent employed to join them together. In Figure 8 the edge of the combined sheets is illustrated.

When such a structure is fixed to a window pane 2a as shown in Figure 5I for a non-rigid movable plastic planel I9, it is desirable to provide a frame to hold the panel I9 in a stretched condition. To the frame 20 is fastened a bracket 2l with a bent end 22 extending into a cam groove 23 in a pivotally mounted actuator 24.

Two different positions of this blind with arrows indicating the high light ray angles are depicted in Figures 9 and 1D.

As already indicated, the non-elastic sheets xed to the opposite sides of the inner mobile sheet in which the layers of light shielding material are embodied may be of various forms. For some purposes, such as window easements, glass sheets are likely to be preferred due to its permanent character. However, where it is desired to attach this invention to a window already installed, as a matter of cost and ease of handling a thin plastic sheet has advantages as the movable panel. This thin plastic sheet may be flexible to permit rolling' of the article for shipment and merchandizing. It must, however, be substantially non-stretching in order that when pulled to tip the layers of light shielding material, its action upon the mobile sheet is uniform throughout its attachment toit.

Should it be desired to use this invention in a blind separate from a window, both sides may be a flexible non-stretching plastic film or sheet for rolling or hanging in a form of a curtain. In an installation of such a blind one side film or sheet is held in position with fasteners at one or both ends while the opposite movable side film or sheet is held taut with adjustable gripping means at the opposite end. With such an arrangement, ease of adjustment is gained by having the layers of light shielding material normally positioned in planes tilted in an extreme position so that the elastic nature of the inner sheet will incline them to that position against a pull of the movable side iilm or sheet panel to tilt the layers in the opposite direction.

For easy attachment to a window this invention may be formed with the mobile plastic sheet 3, as shown in Figure l, or the folded plastic sheet of Figure 5, with a fiat transparent sheet fastened to one side and a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the planar surface of the opposite side.

While my invention has been described as particularly suitable for windows or a separate blind, it may also be useful for light discharge adjustment on electric lights and automobile headlights. It also could be formed as a changeable sign with a different message applied to opposite sides of the tiltable layers.

With further development in plastics it is anticipated that materials with superior qualities for use in my invention will become available. For instance, silicon `plastics retain their elastic qualities under a greater temperature range than do vinyls, besides having a good afflnity to glass. Not `being water white transparent, according to information at hand, they are not now suitable for employment in this invention. However. future research may produce silicones with this added characteristic.

The technical data which has been accumulated from the commercial development of safety glass and other combining of glass and plastic and in the joining of plastic to plastic, provides sufficient information for selection of suitable methods and proper materials for bonding the plastic sheet with the light shielding layers of this invention and with the outer panels of glass or plasti For this reason methods and materials referred to herein 'are illustrative only and not designed to limit the invention nor to set forth the ultimate best means for its practice.

W hat I claim as my invention is:

l. An adjustable light shielding device in combination with and for attachment to a glass pans including a sheet of flexible, mobile, generally transparent substance, the substance being sunlciently mobile in character to permit one side surface of the sheet to be moved in its own plane while remaining parallel to the opposite relatively stationary side; layers of light shielding mate--y rial incorporated in said sheet in spaced substantially parallel planes running cross-wise of the sheet; a freely mounted non-elastic transparent lm or sheet fastened to one side of said exible sheet for moving the outer surface of said sheet in respect to the glass pane when the opposite side of the device is attached to the glass pane and manually movable means gripping an edge of the non-elastic iilm by which the lm and the surface of the side of the iiexible sheet to which it is fastened may be moved planarly.

2. A combination adjustable blind and window having an inner sheet of mobile transparent material the material of said sheet being suflciently mobile in character to permit one side of said sheet to be moved =planarly while remaining parallel to the opposite relatively stationary side,

References cited in the me of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 622,506 Manning Apr. 4, 1899 719,066 Wadsworth Jan. 27, 1903 2,053,173 Astima Sept. 1, 1936 2,382,566 Heckman Aug. 14,!1945 

